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Hole Cleaning 2 - SPE-143675-MS
Hole Cleaning 2 - SPE-143675-MS
Abstract
As measured depths and displacements in horizontal and extended-reach (ERD) wells increase, good hole cleaning and
cuttings removal is essential to avoid associated problems with poor hole cleaning like pipe sticking, abnormal torque and
drag, drop in ROP and etc. So far, some methods and models have been developed that can assist in finding the minimum flow
rate required to efficient removal of the cuttings during drilling operation. One of them is Larsens model that predicts
minimum flow rate for cuttings removal from 55 to 90 degrees of inclination. Another model, Moores correlation, is used to
find the slip velocity of the cuttings in vertical wells (0 degree inclination). This paper presents a detailed combination of
Larsens model and Moores correlation to predict and calculate the minimum flow rate for cuttings removal for all range of
inclinations namely from 0 to 90. The resultant flow rate is compared with flow rate that maximizes the bit horsepower or bit
jet impact force (optimized flow rate). If the flow rate for cuttings removal is less than the optimized flow rate, the latter is
selected. But if the flow rate for cuttings removal is higher than the optimized flow rate, then drilling fluid rheological
properties should be changed until the optimized flow rate becomes higher than the flow rate for cuttings removal. This
procedure gurantees achievement both optimized drilling hydraulics and good hole cleaning. To illustrate the usability of this
approach whitin all inclination ranges, three points in vertical, deviated and horizontal parts of a horizontal well are chosen and
the optimization procedure performed and presented.
Introduction
It has been recognized for many years that removal of the cuttings from the wellbore during drilling poses special problems.
Until the early 1980s vertical drilling operations outnumbered deviated and horizontal drilling operations. Thus most effort
was put into understanding the hole cleaning in vertical wells. Poor hole cleaning may result in lost circulation, hinder the
casing or liner running jobs, excessive overpull on trips, high rotary torque, excessive equivalent circulation density, formation
break down, slow ROP, excessive bit wearing and pipe sticking problems[1,5]. The major factors that influence cutting
transport are namely; drill pipe eccentricity, wellbore size and inclination, drilling fluid density, cuttings size, cuttings density,
drill pipe rotation, drilling rate, drilling fluid rheology and flow rate. Practical use of these parameters to control cuttings
transport is however very much depending on their controllability in the field. For example drill pipe eccentricity has a strong
influence on the cuttings transport. However it is very difficult to control and/or assess the degree of eccentricity during the
drilling operation. Figure 1 illustrates these factors in relation to their ease of control in the field.
Drilling fluid rheology and flow rate are the two main parameters which would influence cuttings transport strongly while
their control in the field is relatively easy [5]. Based on these facts several methods and models have been introduced that can
be used to find the minimum flow rate required to remove the cuttings from the well for a specific drilling condition and
drilling fluid rheological properties. Larsens model can be used to find the minimum flow rate for cuttings removal from 55 to
90 degrees of inclination [7]. Another one is Moores model that is used to find the slip velocity of cuttings in vertical wells
[2]. In this study a computer programming in MATLAB was developed that combines these two methods and predicts the
minimum flow rate for cuttings transport from 0 to 90 degrees of inclination. Another computer program was written that
calculates the optimum flow rate for different drilling fluid rheological properties using both hydraulic horsepower and jet
impact force criteria. Then these two programs are combined to find that rheological properties of the drilling fluid that gives
the optimized flow rate higher than the flow rate to remove the cuttings from a horizontal well called YS5, drilled in Yorte-ESha field inVaraminin Iran.
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Vm in =Vcut +Vslip
In which cuttings velocity expressed by
(1)
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Vcut =
D
36 1 pipe
D hole
ROP
2
18.16
0.64 +
ROP
(2)
a < 53cp
(3)
a > 53cp
(4)
These two equations for slip velocity were correlated for mud density, angle of inclination, and cuttings average size.
Mud density correlation factor is
m > 8.7
(5)
Cmwt = 1
m < 8.7
(6)
(7)
(8)
(9)
Moores correlation is used to find the slip velocity of the cuttings in vertical wells.
v s l = 1 .8 9
ds s f
(
)
f
f
(10)
For finding Vmin for vertical wells (0 degree of inclination) Vslip is calculated by using Moores correlation and it is
supposed that Vcut can be calculated by using equation (2). Now an example is given to see how these two methods are
combined and used to predict and calculate the Vmin from 0 to 90 degrees of inclination. The data used in this example is
presented in table 1. The result is plotted in figure 3. As it can be seen figure 3 contains two more points which are not in the
range of 55 to 90 degrees of inclination. One for 30 and the other one for 40 degrees of inclination. The data for these two
points are obtained form Larsens data which has been used to drive the equations for calculation of Vmin for cuttings
transport [6]. In Larsens data, Vmin for 65 divided by Vmin for 30 of inclination was 0.76 and Vmin for 65 divide by
Vmin for 40 was 0.8. In the same way it was supposed that in figure 3, Vmin for 30 is 0.76 of Vmin for 65. And Vmin for
40 is 0.8 of Vmin for 65. In fact these two points are used to get a better and more accurate interpolation of the points in
figure 3. Without using these two points the change in Vmin for 0 to 55 will be linear which seems not to be accurate. The
ways to change Vmin is by changing mud rheological properties or by changing rate of penetration.
Another factor that can be modified and change to reduce Vmin required for hole cleaning is the rate of penetration (ROP).
The higher the rate of penetration the more cuttings generated by the bit, the higher Vmin and therefore flow rate is required to
transport the cuttings to the surface [3]. But reduction of this factor (ROP) is not desiered for drilling performance because it
directlu affects the whole project time length and increases the total cost of a single drilling operation.
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required flow rate decreases. Which means the major force acting on cutting settlements is gravity force and can be overcomed
by increase fluid carrying capacity. Within high inclination ntervals, because cuttings tend to settle on low side of well to make
a bed, lower rheological properties of drilling mud is more desirable and produce better hole cleaning effects. To adjust and
choose the best values for flow rate, bit horse power or impact force, surface and pumping limitations should be considered as
well.
Nomenclature
Cang : Larsens correction factor for hole inclination.
Cd : Correction factor for bit nozzle velocity.
Cmwt : Larsens correction factor for mud weight.
Csize : Larsens correction factor for average cuttings size.
MD : Measured depth, ft.
n : Power law flow behavior index, dimensionless.
PV : plastic viscosity, cp.
q : Flow rate, gpm.
ROP : Rate of penetration, ft/hr.
TVD : True vertical depth, ft.
Vcut : Cuttings velocity, ft/s.
Vmin : Minimum velocity for cuttings transport, ft/s.
Vs : Cuttings volume, ft3.
Vsl : Cuttings slip velocity, ft/s.
Vslip : Cuttings slip velocity, ft/s.
V : Mean velocity, ft/s.
V a : Annulus mean velocity, ft/s.
Vslip : Mean slip velocity, ft/s.
W : Cuttings weight, lbf.
YP : Yield point, lbf/100ft2.
: Well inclination, degree.
: Viscosity, cp.
a : Apparent viscosity, cp.
: Drilling fluid density, ppg.
f : Drilling fluid density, ppg.
m : Mud density, ppg.
s : Cuttings density, ppg.
y : Yield point, lbf/100ft2.
References
1: A. Saasenl, Den noske stats oljeselskap a.s. (Statod) Hole Cleaning During Deviated Drilling - The Effects of Pump Rate
and Rheology SPE 50582, 1998.
2: A.T. Bourgoyne, et al.; Applied Drilling Engineering SPE Textbook Series. Vol. 3, Richardson, Texas (1986) chapter 4.
3: Azar, J.J and Sanchez, R.A Mud Cuttings Transport Study in Directional Well drilling. SPE paper 39020, 1997. 4
4: Patrick Kenny and Egd Sunde. Staloil A/S. and Terry Hernphill. Baroid Drilling Fluids Hole Cleaning Modelling: Whats
n Got To Do With It? SPE 35099, 1998.
5: Rishi B. Adari, SPE, Stefan Miska, SPE. and Ergun Kuru, SPE, University of Tulsa, Peter Bern, SPE, BP-Amoco, and Arild
Saasen, SPE, Statoil. Selecting Drilling Fluid Properties and Flow Rates For Effective Hole Cleaning in HighA ngle and
Horizontal Wells SPE 63050, 2000.
6: Rudi Rubiandini R S., SPE -1172519, Bandung Institute of Technology, Indonesia Equation for Estimating Mud Minimum
Rate for Cuttings Transport in an Inclined-Until Horizontal Well SPE/IADC 57541,1999.
7: T. I. Larsen, SPE. Unocal Cap. A.A. Pilehvari SPE. Texas A&M U. and J.J. Azar, SPE. U. of Tulsa Development of a New
Cuttings-Transport Model for High-Angle Wellbores Including Horizontal Wells SPE 25872, 1997.
SPE 143675
ppg
11
2
Yield Point
lbf/100ft
Plastic Viscosity
cp
24
in.
8.5
Hole Diameter
12
Drillpipe Diameter
in.
Cuttings Density
ppg
21.6
Cuttings Size
in.
0.2
Rate of Penetration
ft/hr
10
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Figure 4: Optimum flow rate and the flow rate for hole cleaning for the depth of 300m TVD.
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Figure 5: Optimum flow rate and the flow rate for hole cleaning for the depth of 690m TVD.
Figure 6: Optimum flow rate and the flow rate for hole cleaning for the depth of 900m TVD.